Category: Acupuncture

Why You Should Try Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy for Your Arthritis

11/17/2015

For many people the onset of the cold damp weather also marks the worsening of arthritis symptoms. With many of the common conventional therapies used to treat this painful condition, risks and side effects can be abundant. Overuse of pain killers can lead to organ damage (namely stomach, liver, and kidneys), and tolerance leads to a problematic cycle of needing higher doses to relieve the pain. Cortisone shots can lead to degenerative changes in the joint, potentially worsening the situation in the long run.

Complementary therapies can offer safer and highly effective means to treat arthritis, and depending on the situation, can either reduce the amount and dependence on conventional drugs, or replace them altogether. Acupuncture is one of the safest available alternative therapies, and has been shown in numerous well-designed studies to be highly effective in providing long term management of arthritis symptoms. A thin needle correctly placed, will set off a chain of natural chemical events in the body, releasing chemicals that change the body’s perception of the pain, as well as agents that work to control the inflammation. Stimulation of the local circulation adds to the pain relief and can reduce stiffness. Often electric stimulation is added to the needles, a process that is quite comfortable and works to potentiate these effects.

Certain simple herbal remedies can greatly accentuate treatment, and many herbs not only offer little in the way of side effects, but may also offer added benefit to the body by the way of antioxidant and organ-protective actions. These 4 herbs have demonstrated significant benefit for arthritis symptoms:

1- Boswelia serrata – called Mo Yao in Chinese Medicine, the medicinal part of this tree is the aromatic resin you may recognize - frankincense. Boswellia has strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, has demonstrated the ability to slow cartilage loss, and may work against the autoimmune process.
2- Capsicum extract – the agent that makes the hot pepper, hot. Can open the circulation and reduce the perception of pain by inhibiting a pain transmitter. Versatile for use as a topical cream to provide relief at the source.
3- Turmeric – called Yu Jin in Chinese medicine, and gaining much popularity as a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Works again to inhibit pain receptors and inflammatory chemicals. Best taken as an extract (called curcumin) for medicinal purposes.
4- Ginger – called Sheng Jiang in Chinese Medicine, very similar in use and effect as turmeric, as the 2 plants share close botanical relation.

Other supplements also have much to offer for arthritis relief, namely Omega 3 fatty acids.

As herbs and supplements have medicinal effect, it always of utmost importance to check to be sure they are suitable for your individual use, especially if you are taking prescription medications, have certain medical conditions, or are pregnant.

Rebecca Stephens D.TCM, R.Ac, B.Sc.

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Naturopathic Fertility Care - Treating Fertility Naturally

8/19/2014

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Whether you have just started to plan for a family, or have been trying to conceive
for some time, naturopathic medicine can help you optimize your health, and by
doing do improve fertility and pregnancy outcomes! Naturopathic fertility care
involves natural non-invasive treatment strategies that target the underlying cause
of your fertility struggles. Treatment plans are individualized and include the use of
vitamins and minerals, herbs, acupuncture, and diet and lifestyle counselling.

Preconception Care

Preparing for optimal fertility and a healthy pregnancy starts in the preconception
period, ie. 3-6 months prior to conception. Dr. Meghan van Drimmelen’s fertility
program will help you start out on a healthy path by incorporating some basic
lifestyle changes and natural health solutions to get your mind and body ready for
the exciting new stage ahead!

Preconception Planning Includes:

• Optimizing nutrition
• Decreasing toxin load
• Discontinuing hormonal birth control or IUD
• Stress management
• Optimizing BMI
• Basal body temperature charting
• Preconception laboratory tests
• Regulating menstrual cycles
• Addressing and treating any underlying health concerns

During this stage the goal is to help you feel as vibrant and healthy as possible
before moving into the exciting new stage of pregnancy. If the mind and body are in balance it is easier to conceive, and maintain a healthy pregnancy to term. It is important to recognize that it takes two to get pregnant, so a healthy lifestyle
program should be incorporated for both partners!

Naturopathic Fertility Treatment

If you are having problems achieving or maintaining a pregnancy, Dr. Meghan van
Drimmlen’s natural fertility program can help restore balance to your reproductive
system, and naturally treat the underlying factors that may be impeding positive
fertility outcomes. A comprehensive health intake, assessment, and laboratory work
will help to uncover the root cause of your fertility struggles.

Common fertility concerns that can be addressed through naturopathic treatments
include:

• PCOS and anovulatory cycles
• Endometriosis
• Poor Ovarian Reserve
• Thyroid disorders
• Luteal phase defect
• Male factor infertility (low sperm count, motility or morphology)
• Recurrent pregnancy loss
• Unexplained infertility

‘Unexplained Infertility’ is a term used when conventional diagnostic procedures
cannot determine the underlying cause of fertility concerns. Naturopathic medicine
can diagnose and treat some of these factors that impede a couple’s fertility
including:

• Stress hormone imbalance
• Food intolerance or sensitivity
• Heavy metal toxicity
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Immunological factors
• Sex hormone imbalance
• Infection

Assisted Reproductive Technologies

If you are seeking IVF or IUI, an integrative approach that uses a combination of
conventional medicine, and evidence based natural medicine will help to improve
your success rates. The use of natural medicine during ART helps to reduce stress,
improve blood flow to the uterus to optimize implantation, reduces side effects of
medications, and enhances egg and sperm quality.
Acupuncture in particular has been shown to significantly increase IVF success
rates when performed regularly leading up to IVF treatment, as well as immediately
pre and post embryo transfer. For optimal outcomes, treatment should start 8-12
weeks leading up to IVF treatment to best prepare the body.

Acupuncture package: $350 for 6 treatments (6 treatments for the price of 5!)

My Goal as an ND and Fertility Expert

Fertility and healthy pregnancy can be both exhilarating and emotionally taxing. My goal is to make your fertility journey as easy as possible for you. I will take the time to listen to your concerns, provide thorough assessments, laboratory testing and education, and will create an individualized holistic program to optimize your fertility and pregnancy outcomes. I encourage couples to come to visits together so there is a thorough understanding of each partner’s health status and concerns.

I look forward to meeting with you and supporting you throughout your fertility journey.

Dr. Meghan van Drimmelen ND
Healing Cedar Wellness

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Seeking Relief for Irregularity? Try Revamping your Routine!

8/5/2014

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I once had an instructor at school declare: “If you aren’t having a bowel movement every day, you might as well be smoking a pack of cigarettes a day!”. An overly dramatic statement to be sure, and there is always argument to what the “perfect regularity” might be, but what he was trying to convey was the extreme importance of regular bowel movements to the maintenance of overall health.

You can make the association with the exhaust system of a car: if the exhaust pipe was to be plugged up at all with the engine running, serious repercussions occur. As our amazing human engines run and process all day, some pretty significant waste products are produced. A back-up of these wastes can potentially “grind the gears” of a vast spectrum of other body functions. This is why you may notice your health care providers are so darn interested in your number two’s!

In treating many cases of constipation, I have noticed a common factor in a significant number of them: people who suffer from habitual constipation often lead very rushed lives! Not all of them, of course, but a considerable number are the go-go-go people who wake up, slam coffee, stuff or skip breakfast, perhaps frantically get kids ready for school, and rush out the door to work as a normal morning. Sound at all familiar? To complicate things further, some of them also have jobs that require quick shifting from being awake during the day, to being unnaturally awake at night. It’s not a wonder that concerns about regularity affect so many!

If you think about it, many of the body systems are designed to run on a set schedule. Hormone production, menstrual cycles, etc. Bowel movements are supposed to run on a schedule as well, associated with digestion. In the natural world, free from the burdens of humanity, this is usually an easy transition from production to elimination. Are you ever jealous of the regularity of your household pet?

One major piece of advice I have for the sufferers of irregularity, one that seems so simple but has huge potential for positive results, is to implement a routine that will help train your body to be regular. As always, the best health solutions are always the ones your body can accomplish on its own.

The individual routines that are found to work for people may all look a bit different, but they all have adequate time and consistency of cues in common. You must give your body time to go, and a series of set events can actually act as cues to trigger a bowel movement. Yes, it is possible to train your body into being an all-star eliminator!

Your GI tract works all night to prep you for a BM, so let’s tap into that potential. Here is a suggestion of a simple routine that includes some items to help get things moving:

• A few hours before bedtime, hydrate yourself. Try 2-3 cups of warm “Sooth Digestion Tea” (recipe below). This decoction will help your body process the food you have taken in during the day, hydrate the bowel, and provide the background to hopefully get things moving the next morning. Be sure to do this early enough to avoid waking to urinate.

• Wake up at the same time every day if possible, and make this time 2 hours before any major obligations of the day start. If I’ve lost you already, remember this is training! We need to commit to get results!!

• Drink 3 cups of warm water soon after waking. Even better, drink 3 cups of warm “Sooth Digestion Tea”. You have just gone hours without water, and it is time to rehydrate! Sit down for at least 15 minutes to sip this water and give yourself a chance to properly “come to”.

• Make your breakfast food and beverage as usual, but develop a ritual about it. To really hit home a few more body cues, make relatively the same food/drink every morning, in the same series of steps, however long it takes you. Do some of the prep the night before if it can help.

• Choose this breakfast wisely, and never skip it. Steer clear of the foods that have more potential to cause inflammation or blockage. For instance, a lot of people have trouble with wheat, so maybe a slice of toast or bagel isn’t really the best food to start your stomach off on. If you find eggs make you really gassy, you likely don’t digest them very well, making them inappropriate for breakfast. Heavy meats are hard to digest and should be avoided. An easy breakfast suggestion could be oatmeal. Although oatmeal does contain gluten, it’s not as much as wheat and it can be both a great place to get fibre as well as tasty vessel for adding other movement-helpers such as fruit and cinnamon.

• Sit down, eat slowly, and enjoy this breakfast! Make this your time, and it should be at least 30 minutes. This process of adding healthy, friendly food to the top of the gastrointestinal tract can help stimulate movement at the bottom of said tract, it just needs time and a state of relaxation to do so. Relax and try not to think about the day, distract the brain by reading something enjoyable. State of mind is very important to the process. Remember that peristalsis (intestinal movement) happens primarily in a parasympathetic state, which is the relaxed side of the nervous system operating platform. On the tense, stressed, sympathetic side, peristalsis virtually halts!

• Try to keep this relaxed orderly state of mind, and go about the rest of your waking routine, whatever that may be for you. If you have ordered things so you have some time to remain sitting and relaxing after breakfast until you feel things start to move, excellent! If not, moving about but keeping the relaxed state of mind is almost as good.

Give this simple system a good 2-4 week trial, and modify it to suit your needs. If necessary, use a white board posted in your kitchen to lay it all out for you with time allotments that work. I find this works well for my patients. Remember that like all good training, this will take some time. Good luck!

If you find you need more help, or require something to provide relief during your “training period”, there are many options available to support you. Diet changes, supplements, herbal formulas, and acupuncture can all be of great assistance. Of course maintaining a proper diet and exercise routine are central to digestive success. Try to steer clear of the laxatives if at all possible. Laxative drugs are often overused and may cause dependence. It is important to note that a lengthy period of constipation can be dangerous to your health, so pay attention to your body and seek medical help (which may include laxatives) if necessary.

Rebecca Stephens Dr.TCM, R.Ac.
Healing Cedar Wellness

“Sooth Digestion Tea”:

3 cups warm water – warm water is the most acceptable to the body for hydration.
1⁄4-1⁄2 tsp cinnamon – warming and soothing to digestive system, regulates blood sugar, relieves pain.
1⁄4-1⁄2 tsp dry ginger, or knob of fresh grated - #1 digestive system soother, relieves various digestive discomforts.
Sprig of muddled peppermint, or a peppermint tea bag – calms stomach, relaxes spasms and bloating, calms the mind and relieves stress.
Squeeze of lemon – acts as an astringent to help loosen material off the lining of the colon, and stimulates the liver for detoxification.
Note - It can be helpful to make this decoction ahead of time to give the spices more time to dissolve, and just warm up before consuming.

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3 Ways to Improve Your IVF Journey

5/21/2014

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1 in 6 Canadian experiences fertility issues. During Canadian Infertility Awareness Week, I wanted to talk about the 3 main ways to improve the IVF journey many couples are embarking on. Although IVF may not have been their first choice in conceiving a child, future parents may able to conceive through this procedure.

If you have any questions regarding acupuncture in the support of IVF protocol, feel free to contact me.

Clara Cohen
Registered Acupuncturist
Healing Cedar Wellness

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4 Natural Ways to Improve Endometriosis

3/28/2014

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What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a gynaecological disorder effecting millions of women worldwide. This disorder occurs when the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus, implants abnormally outside of the uterine cavity. The most common sites of endometrial implants are the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the bladder, the intestines, and the ligaments and muscles in the pelvis. The tissue outside of the uterus responds the same way to the menstrual cycle as the lining of the uterus. For instance endometrial tissue will grow and proliferate in response to an increase in hormones (estrogen), and will degrade and bleed when hormones decline (progesterone). The endometrial implants that bleed outside of the uterus cause inflammation and swelling of the surrounding area, scar tissue formation, and pain.

Endometriosis typically occurs in women of reproductive age, and is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 35. For symptomatic women, diagnosis is confirmed with pelvic laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure that allows for the examination of your pelvic organs and identification of endometrial lesions.

Symptoms of endometriosis:

Menstrual cramping
Chronic pelvic pain
Low back pain
Pain with intercourse
Painful bowel movements
Painful urination
Gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea, constipation and nausea during menstruation
Infertility

Because these symptoms can look like a variety of different diseases, diagnosis of endometriosis can be difficult and often delayed.

Causes of endometriosis:
We unfortunately don’t know the exact cause of endometriosis, but several theories do exist.

Retrograde menstruation. This is where menstrual blood or endometrial cells flow backwards through the fallopian tubes and land on pelvic organs where they start to grow.
Coelomic Metaplasia. This theory suggests that the cells that line the peritoneal cavity transform into endometrial cells.
Immune system dysfunction. Reduced cell mediated immunity prevents the detection and eradication of misplaced endometrial cells.
The displacement and redistribution of endometrial cells though the blood or lymph fluid, or during pelvic surgery.

Risk factors:

Genetic. Women that have a first-degree relative with endometriosis have a 6 fold increased risk in developing the disease in compared to those that do not have the family history.
Diet. There is a decreased risk of endometriosis in women that eat higher amounts of vegetables and fruit, and an increased risk of developing the disease when eating diets high in red meat. High intake of caffeine and alcohol also contribute to an increased risk of developing the disease.
Hormone imbalance. Because endometrial tissue grows and proliferates in response to high levels of estrogen, higher levels of estrogen in relation to progesterone may increase the risk of developing endometriosis.
Exposure to xenoestrogens. These are environmental toxins that act as estrogens in the body, and thus contribute to hormone modulated diseases. Examples of xenoestrogens are phthalates found in plastics and toxins in herbicides and pesticides.

Most likely the cause of endometriosis is multifactorial. Because of this, the naturopathic approach to managing endometriosis includes taking all of the risk factors and causal theories into consideration when developing a treatment plan. In addition, because chronic pelvic pain and infertility can trigger emotional stress, stress management is also an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Goals of naturopathic treatment:

Prevention of excessive endometrial tissue escape
Decreasing inflammation
Pain management
Shrinkage of endometrial lesions
Decreasing exposure to environmental toxins
Stress management
Fertility support

Treatment modalities used to reach goals:

Nutritional medicine – lifestyle and supplementation
Herbal medicine
Acupuncture
Bioidentical hormone therapy

General naturopathic treatment plan:

1- To prevent excessive back flow of menstrual blood and endometrial cells through the fallopian tubes, head stands, certain yoga poses such as shoulder stands should be avoided on heavy flow days.

2- Pain management revolves around controlling inflammation, and decreasing muscle spasms associated with chronic pain signals.

Decreasing inflammation:
- Omega 3 fatty acids
- Herbs such as curcumin and boswellia
- Anti-inflammatory diet
  - Limited refined sugar, and saturated fat (red meat, dairy, egg)
  - High intake of vegetables and fruit
  - High polyunsaturated fats – nuts, seeds, fish, olive oil
  - Food sensitivity testing – to determine individual food triggers that contribute to systemic inflammation.
Decreasing muscle spasms:
- Magnesium
- Pelvic flood physiotherapy

Note: Acupuncture is a great adjunct therapy for calming any type of pain in the body.

3- To shrink endometrial tissue hormone balancing, immune modulation, and antioxidant support is key.

The goal of hormone balancing is to decrease estrogen – the hormone that is responsible for endometrial growth and proliferation. This can be achieved by supplementing with:
- Vitex/Chaste Tree
- Indole-3-carbinol, and diindoylmethane, which helps with the metabolism of estrogen through the liver
- Bio-identical progesterone (nature’s estrogen balancer)
- Avoiding xenoestrogens
- Acupuncture

Immune system modulation.
- Probiotics, vitamin C, and beta-carotene – enhanced cell mediated immunity for the destruction of misplaced endometrial cells.

Antioxidant support.
- N-acetyl cysteine.

4- Stress management

Yoga, deep breathing, meditation, acupuncture, massage, counseling.

Dr. Meghan van Drimmelen ND
Healing Cedar Wellness

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Acupuncture Does Not Treat or Cure Anything!

3/24/2014

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What does acupuncture do and how does it work?
Here's the simple and easy answer: acupuncture does not treat or cure anything!
Clara Cohen, Registered Acupuncturist

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LH Ovulation Strips for Tracking Fertility – The What, Why, and How

9/6/2013

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What are LH Ovulation Strips, and why should I be using them?
The LH Ovulation Strip is a fast and easy home-use test to predict when you are having your LH (Luteinizing Hormone) surge. This test is a preferred method of tracking when the most fertile days of your cycle occur, and is one of the most reliable predictors of ovulation.

Besides their common use for timing of intercourse, LH strips are used in a few other applications. They can help determine when eggs are at their prime for surgical removal in IVF procedures, and they can conversely help verify a lack of ovulation to assist in diagnosing polycystic ovaries, premature ovarian failure, and menopause.

In terms of helping you track your fertility, the best way to explain the strip is to explain a bit about what biological event it is measuring, and why this makes it a preferred method.

The old way of monitoring your most fertile days for intercourse was to tediously chart your basal body temperature, to see when you were ovulating. This involved taking your temperature every morning before getting out of bed, and charting it to observe any fluctuations. A definite spike meant you probably ovulated. Unfortunately there were a few short-comings with this method. Firstly, there are a few things that could cause a temperature spike (stress, fever, poor sleep, etc). But more importantly, the temperature spike usually occurs 12-24 hours after you ovulate, and herein lies the issue with using this to monitor your fertility.

You are actually considered to be at peak fertility in the 2 days preceding ovulation, which is why you may have noticed your body producing cervical mucus before the event. Sperm can survive inside your body for about 3-5 days, and so having intercourse in these 2 days before egg release can make for the best chances of having sperm and egg meet. After being released, an egg lives for about 12-24 hours, after which it will dissolve if it isn’t fertilized. So if you are getting your important message indicator 12-24 hours after the fact, as with basal temperature monitoring, you can see the problem!

In contrast, the LH ovulation strip is monitoring your LH surge, which is a much more timely (and therefore much less stressful), prediction. When your body is getting ready to release an egg, your hormone system is triggered to release a surge of Luteinizing Hormone (LH). This is a consequence of the changing hormone levels in a maturing egg signalling the pituitary to increase LH production (basically telling the body -“I’m ready to go!”). It is the increased LH that actually triggers ovulation, which occurs about 24-36 hours after the surge. Important to note that nothing other than this “impending ovulation” should trigger a LH surge, so it provides a clear message that your most fertile days have arrived.

Luckily, this marked increase in LH is detectable in the urine, and in steps your home-use LH Ovulation Strip test. For complete instructions on how to use your strips and interpret your results, please click here

Please note that some drugs can affect the test, and you should talk to your practitioner if you have any questions regarding this. Although using the LH ovulation strip is a great way of finding out when your “best chance” intercourse may be, having regular sex (i.e. a few times per week, or every other day) is always the most reliable way of maximizing your chances of conception.

Rebecca Stephens
Dr. TCM, R.Ac., B.Sc.
Healing Cedar Wellness

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Do it yourself pressure points for stress and anxiety

8/1/2013

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I would venture to say that every human being on the planet knows what it is like to feel stressed. For some, it may be a few fleeting moments, triggered only perhaps by extreme circumstances. For the large majority of others, stress can be a lot more than just a passing feeling, and too often its left to get to the point where it can become incapacitating.

It’s pretty easy to say to someone “just relax”, or “don’t let yourself get stressed out about this”, and it would be hard to say something less helpful. Stress is a part of life. On a positive level, it allows us to identify when we may be in danger or threatened, and can help boost performance in response to a challenge. Of course the negative side is broad and multifaceted; in a constant state of stress our body defenses start to wear down, become less efficient in reacting to situations, and we just generally start to feel un-well.

It is extremely important to pay attention to your body and realize when stress could be causing you harm. Any physiological effect of stress (say a loss of appetite, nausea or diarrhea, disturbances in sleep, or feelings of tightness or flutters in the chest), is a pretty good indicator that stress is taking a toll and needs to be attended to. There are many many things you can do to combat stress and anxiety, what I generally tell my patients is to ensure they are taking time for themselves, pursuing the things they love to do, and seeking the therapies they find relax them and help them manage their stress.

One such therapy that is easy to take home with you is acupressure, and I’d like to point out three easy-to-locate pressure points that really help. These points can be used at your desk while taking a quick break from staring at your work, or leaning against a wall somewhere for a moment to yourself. The general method is to close your eyes, take a slow deep breath, and upon exhaling press the point. Repeat as necessary.

1st point – YINTANG – this is the sometimes called “3rd eye” point that is located on the forehead, dead centre between the inner edges of both eyebrows. There is usually a small bone depression at this point, and sometimes it can feel a bit sensitive. It is easy to know when you’re in the right spot, as the soothing effect is usually immediate. Wonderful for inducing a general calm state, it can also help relax a tired face and eyes, and may help quiet a stress headache.

2nd point – SHENMEN – also called “Heart 7”, this is the source point of the heart, which in Chinese Medicine is thought to govern the mind and spirit. Hold your hand in front of your face with your palm facing you. On your wrist, at the corner of your palm directly below the base of your little finger, you should be able to see or feel a ropey tendon. Place the thumb of your opposite hand on this tendon, and roll your thumb inwards on the wrist. As your thumb sinks into a soft spot, you’ve found the point. Because it goes to the heart, this point is very useful when stress is causing uncomfortable feelings or palpitations in the chest, and is highly effective in anxiety or panic attacks.

3rd point – NEIGUAN – also called “Pericardium 6”, this is a very versatile point that you may recognise from the travel bands people wear for motion sickness. This point is located about 3 finger breadths above the inner crease of the wrist, centred between two major tendons. Not nearly just for motion sickness, this point can be very useful when stress is causing any sort of digestive upset.

Rebecca Stephens R.TCM.P., R.Ac., B.Sc.
Healing Cedar Wellness

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Naturopathic Peri-Menopause/Menopause Program

5/16/2013

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“I believe that the key to successful peri-menopausal/menopausal treatment revolves around patient education and empowerment. Informing women about the changes that are occurring in their bodies, as well as assessment and treatment options, allows for the patient and doctor to collaborate on a treatment protocol that will best serve the individual. Through education and empowerment, and targeting the underlying hormone imbalance, quality of life can be restored. “

~ Dr. Meghan Stobbs ND

Defining Peri-Menopause, Menopause and Post-Menopause.

The menopausal transition or peri-menopause is a period of a women’s life where ovarian function and sex hormone production declines. This natural transition can start as yearly as 40, and is often associated with changes in length and flow of a women’s menstrual cycle, mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, low energy, foggy thinking, insomnia, loss of skin tone, vaginal dryness, and loss of sex drive.

Menopause occurs when a women has full cessation of her menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The average age of menopause is 51. Once a woman has gone through menopause, she is considered to be post-menopausal. During this time many of the bothersome symptoms a woman experiences prior to menopause gradually ease for most women. However, each individual differs, and for some, these symptoms can persist for a number of years significantly impacting quality of life.

What is the Goal of Dr. Stobbs’ Peri-Menopause/Menopause Program?

Dr. Stobbs’ natural hormone balancing program is aimed at improving quality of life by helping you control any menopause/peri-menopause symptoms, slowing down the aging process, and reducing the risk of chronic disease (ie. osteoporosis and heart disease) associated with post-menopause.

Having any kind of deficiency or imbalance in hormones can greatly affect the quality of your life. The key is to determine what your current unique hormone situation is so we can work towards restoring them to more balanced levels. The program is designed to assist and educate you every step of the way. Together we will find a treatment program that is aligned with your values and health needs.

Dr. Stobbs’ Peri-Menopause/Menopause Program is tailored to each individual by looking at the following:

Lifestyle Modifications.
Education regarding menopause/peri-menopause and the link with thyroid, adrenal, bone and heart health.
Vitamin/mineral herbal supplementation and/or acupuncture.
Bio-identical hormone balancing.

PROGRAM DETAILS

STEP 1: Complete Medical Intake Form and Menopause/Peri-Menopause Questionnaire

Healing Cedar Wellness will provide you with a detailed medical intake form and menopause/peri-menopause questionnaire to fill out and bring with you to your first appointment. This helps create a clear picture of your personal medical history, your current state of health, and what your/priorities are in terms of health and wellness goals.

STEP 2: Come in for your Initial Consultation

The focus of the initial appointment is to review your medical intake form and questionnaire, assess whether or not hormone testing is needed, and provide education around sex hormones, thyroid, adrenal hormones, bone and heart health. Lifestyle modifications, as well as supplements and/or acupuncture may be prescribed at this time. If you have recent blood work please bring a copy of this blood work in to the initial appointment for Dr. Stobbs to review. Initial consultations are scheduled as 1-hour appointments.

STEP 3: Hormone Testing

Based on your medical history and current state of health, Dr. Stobbs may suggest sex hormone testing (either salivary OR urine), as well as a blood test to look at thyroid health. If you and Dr. Stobbs agree upon hormone testing, the tests will be ordered at the initial visit. Once the salivary and/or blood sample is collected, the results will be forwarded to Healing Cedar Wellness in 10 to 14 days. The clinic will phone you to book in for a 30-minute follow-up appointment to discuss the results and further treatment options.

STEP 4: Bio-identical Hormones

Bio-identical hormones may be prescribed based on patient values, severity of symptoms, hormone test results, medical history, and past treatments tried.

STEP 5: Monitoring and Follow-Up

Finding the right balance of hormones for your unique body and situation is a bit of an art. Dr. Stobbs will support you throughout the balancing process by addressing your questions and concerns at each and every follow-up appointment. Follow-up appointments are used to discuss hormone panel results, lifestyle modifications, adherence and response to supplements and/or bio-identical hormone therapies, and adjustments to treatment if needed. Follow-up consultations are scheduled as 30-minute appointments.

The complete program includes an initial appointment and 3-4 follow-up appointments. If acupuncture is the main treatment modality decided upon, the number of acupuncture visits will depend on patient response. Once we have succeeded in finding you a stable regimen, we encourage you to take advantage of our maintenance program: coming in every 6 months to ensure everything is working properly and no new issues have arisen.

FEES
Initial Consultation (1 hour): $165 (includes GST)
30-Minute Follow-Up Visits: $95 (includes GST)
Saliva Hormone Panel: $275 (plus GST) OR Urine Hormone Panel: $329 (plus GST)
Thyroid Testing: $75.50 (plus GST)
Acupuncture (45-minute treatment): $70.00 (includes GST)

**Naturopathic consultation and acupuncture fees are covered under most extended medical plans through your employer. Testing fees may also be covered, please check with the details of your plan to see your level of coverage.**

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Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT): Improve Your Quality of Life This Allergy Season with Dr. Meghan Stobbs ND

4/11/2013

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What is SLIT?

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an injection free natural treatment that addresses the underlying cause of environmental allergies. The therapy involves exposing a patient to small doses of the allergen(s) under the tongue, which helps to re-train the immune system to become less reactive. This process is called desensitization, and can be used to treat hay fever allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and allergic asthma in adults, and children over 3 years of age.

Sublingual immunotherapy has endorsement from the World Health Organization, the World Allergy Organization, and the Cochrane Collaborations, and has been used for over 60 years in various countries. Over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals have shown that sublingual immunotherapy is both safe and effective, and when compared to conventional allergy shots, it costs less, is more convenient, and requires fewer clinical visits.

How does SLIT work?

Like injection therapy, SLIT works by changing the body’s ability to react with allergens. A small dose is given every day sublingually (under the tongue), which desensitizes your immune system to the allergen(s).

An initial allergy scratch test is first performed to determine which allergens you are reacting to (skin prick testing cannot be undertaken in pregnant women, and individuals taking B-blockers). The first dose of the indicated allergen(s) is given in office, and subsequent daily doses of the allergy drops are taken at home. Retesting after 6 months of treatment will determine if the allergy drops are still needed.

SLIT can be used during the allergy season, or preventatively 30-60 days prior to the offending allergy season. Treatment continues to the end of the allergy season, or beyond if indicated.

Types of allergens tested and treated include cat and dog dander, dust mites, tree pollen, weeds, grasses and mold.

When should I start SLIT treatment?

Preventatively: Treatment should start 4-8 weeks prior to the offending allergy season.
Co-seasonally: Treatment during the allergy season can be started at any time.

BC Allergy Seasons:

Tree pollen: February to June
Grass: May to August
Weed: August to November
Mold, dust and dander: There is no season for these allergens – treatment can start at any time.

Appointments and Fees for Sublingual Immunotherapy

If you are a new patient to Dr. Stobbs, expect to be at the clinic for a 1-hour initial visit where your medical history is reviewed, questions are addressed, and the allergy scratch test is performed. If you are a returning patient, a 30 minute appointment to perform the allergy test is needed, and you will be asked to wait for an additional 15 minutes in the reception area prior to going home.

Our comprehensive testing fee is $75.00 plus GST, or $15.00 plus GST per individual allergen. The cost of the allergen drops will depend on the number of allergens being treated. For individuals with extended medical plans, the cost of the allergy drops may be covered with submission of your receipt. Please check with your insurance agency or employer for details.

Dr. Stobbs will fax the prescription in, and your allergy drops will be shipped to Healing Cedar Wellness for pick up. The first dose of the medicine must be administered at the clinic, which requires a 15-minute follow-up appointment for observation, and overview of medicine administration and dosage.

Dr. Meghan Stobbs
Naturopath Doctor
Healing Cedar Wellness

Studies and Articles on SLIT

Preventive effects of sublingual immunotherapy in childhood: an open randomized controlled study
Marogna, Maurizio; Tomassetti, Dante; Bernasconi, Antonella; Colombo, Fausto; Massolo, Alessandro; Rienzo Businco, Andrea D.; Canonica, Giorgio W.; Passalacqua, Giovanni; Tripodi, Salvatore
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 101, Number 2, August 2008 , pp. 206-211(6).

Effects of sublingual immunotherapy for multiple or single allergens in polysensitized patients
Marogna, Maurizio; Spadolini, Igino; Massolo, Alessandro; Zanon, Pietro; Berra, Daniele; Chiodini, Elena; Canonica, Walter G.; Passalacqua, Giovanni
Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 98, Number 3, March 2007 , pp. 274-280(7)

Efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy in grass pollen allergy
Wessner D, Rakoski J, Ring J. Chemical Immunology and Allergy. 2003;82:53-61.

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